Project description
Portable pathogen detection for low-resource settings
Immunoassays are biochemical tests that detect antigens or antibodies and are used to diagnose infectious diseases with high sensitivity. These lab-based tests offer precise pathogen identification but are expensive or inaccessible for low- and medium-income regions. Lateral flow antigen tests provide a faster, more affordable alternative, but they lack sensitivity and suffer from cross-reactivity issues. The key objective of the ERC-funded PRONTO project was to address this problem by developing a novel system that detects DNA or RNA from pathogens. The proposed diagnostic test merges a sensor and power source into one element which makes it portable and energy-independent. As a result, it can be used in low-resource settings to deliver efficient infection diagnosis.
Objective
Despite huge progress in prevention and treatment over the past century, infectious diseases still impose a great health burden. For this reason, lab-centralised immunoassays and nucleic acid tests that allow for specific pathogen identification with limits of detection reaching few copies per ml of sample are readily available and supported by both national and private health systems in the developed world. However, these tests are neither affordable nor accessible to patients in low- and medium-income countries. Fortunately, lateral flow antigen-based have proven to be a fast, reliable and affordable tool to detect a wide range of pathogens. However, such tests suffer from cross-reactivity with related bacterial or viral species and more importantly, they often require 10^5 pathogens per mL to yield a positive result. It becomes clear that there is a clinical and technological need to develop rapid tests that combines PCR sensitivity – able to detect one copy per mL - with LF affordability. PRONTO proposes a novel low cost, sustainable and self-powered readout system for nucleic acid detection based on conductimetry. The key component consists on a paper-based and single use self-powered conductimetric sensor developed during ERC Consolidator Grant SUPERCELL. The sensing approach is unique and minimalistic, as it breaks the classic paradigm sensor-electronics-battery as the sensor and the power source are merged into one element while making the detection system energetically autonomous. The simplicity of the approach will enable the deployment of highly sensitive and digital tests for infectious diseases at affordable prices and in a sustainable manner at a global scale.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-POC2
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28006 MADRID
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.